Bag formed in two sections with a bridging portion for resting over a chair

ABSTRACT

A bag primarily for fishing includes two bag portions each having a bottom, an inner side, an outer side and two ends connected together to form a hollow rectangular container with an open top through which rigid tackle boxes can be inserted. The portions each have a flap type cover connected at one end. A connecting fabric flap with four corner straps is connected to each of the first and second bag portions at the inner side thereof and extends therebetween to form a bridging portion dimensioned to rest upon a seat of a chair with each of the bag portions located on a respective side of the chair and depending downwardly from the seat. The two bag portions each have cooperating connecting elements in he form of a zipper which engage one another to hold the inner sides of the two portions together side by side with the connecting member folded therebetween to form the bag into a common structure for common transportation. A handle is provided with two loops one on each portion for connecting together and supporting the bag in the common structure.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a bag, which is primarily but not exclusively designed for fishing so that it can contain and hold fishing tackle boxes in a convenient manner for the user while seated in a chair and can be conveniently transported carrying the tackle boxes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,892,353 (Goddard) issued Jan. 9, 1990 and 5,178,310 (Sowerby) issued Jan. 12, 1993 is disclosed a bag or container arrangement with a center section of a fabric material which is draped over a chair together with two depending side pockets which allow a person seated in the chair to insert elements into the pockets for convenient access while seated in the chair. However these devices are not suitable for properly locating fishing tackle boxes at the seated user nor for transporting such boxes when the device is removed from the chair.

[0003] In U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,865,433 (Warner) issued Sep. 6, 1955; 4,190,918 (Harvell) issued Mar. 4, 1980; 4,863,003 (Carter) issued Sep. 5, 1989; and 5,573,288 (Raffensperger) issued Nov. 12, 1996 is disclosed a combined bag and seat cushion assembly but again this is unsuitable for properly storing fishing tackle boxes and allowing those fishing tackle boxes to be transported in a convenient manner when the device is removed from the chair.

[0004] In U.S. Pat. Nos. D247,524 (Graham) issued Mar. 14, 1978; 2,813,602 (Macartchur) issued Mar. 17, 1955 and 4,442,960 (Vetter) issued Apr. 17, 1984 is disclosed twin bag arrangements primarily for a motorcycle or the like which can be draped over a saddle providing a bag on each side. However again the bags are not intended for fishing tackle and are not suitably connected so that they can be commonly transported conveniently carrying the fishing tackle boxes for the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is one object of the present invention to provide a bag useful primarily for fishing which is convenient for holding tackle while seated on a fishing chair.

[0006] According to the present invention there is provided a bag comprising:

[0007] a first bag portion having a bottom, an inner side, an outer side and two ends connected together to form a hollow container with an open top;

[0008] a second bag portion having a bottom, an inner side, an outer side and two ends connected together to form a hollow container with an open top;

[0009] a connecting member connected to each of the first and second bag portions at the inner side thereof and extending therebetween to form a bridging portion dimensioned to rest upon a seat of a chair with each of the bag portions located on a respective side of the chair and depending downwardly from the seat;

[0010] the connecting member being flexible such that it can be folded between the two bag portions;

[0011] the two bag portions having at the inner side of each portion cooperating connecting elements which engage one another to hold the inner sides of the two portions together side by side to form the bag into a common structure for common transportation;

[0012] and a handle assembly for supporting the bag in the common structure.

[0013] Preferably the sides and ends are generally parallel so as to form each portion into a substantially rectangular construction with a rectangular open top. This allows the portions to receive at least one generally rectangular rigid tackle box which is a loose fit within the portion allowing it to be readily removed.

[0014] Preferably each portion includes a cover for the open top which can be opened to allow access. While this may be conventionally closed by a partly surrounding zipper it is preferred that the cover comprises a flap of fabric connected at one end and which can be opened toward the one end and is held down when closed by a simple hook and loop fastening.

[0015] Preferably the handle comprises a pair of handle loops each attached on a respective portion where the handle loops are each attached to the respective portion at the inner side such that the handle loops are immediately adjacent in the connected position.

[0016] Preferably the connecting elements comprise cooperating parts of a zipper at least partly surrounding the inner sides. However other connecting such as press fasteners or hook and loop fasteners can also be used.

[0017] Preferably the zipper fully surrounds an outer edge of the inner sides so as to contain the connecting member therein.

[0018] Preferably the connecting portion is a fabric sheet. This may be stitched to the portions at the inner walls but more preferably the connecting portion is shaped to form four straps one at each corner with two of the straps being connected to one portion and two of the straps to the other portion.

[0019] In this arrangement, each of the straps can be connected to the respective portion by a clip and D-ring fastener so that it can be disconnected allowing the fabric connecting sheet to be removed for storage between the bag portions during transportation.

[0020] Preferably each of the straps is connected to the respective bag portion on a respective end of the bag portion. In this arrangement the connecting portion should be removed to allow the bag portions to be connected together by the zipper. However the connecting portion may also be connected in a manner which allows it to be simply folded in between the inner walls as the bag portions are connected together.

[0021] Preferably each of the straps is connected to the respective end of the bag portion at a direction inclined to the vertical so as to resist tendency of the bag portion to tilt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present invention:

[0023]FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a bag according to the present invention, shown in connected condition for transportation.

[0024]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the bag of FIG. 1, shown in the opened position draped over a chair seat.

[0025]FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the bag of FIG. 2.

[0026]FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross section of the bag of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] In the figures is shown a bag construction which is primarily designed for fishing so that it can contain a plurality of rectangular fishing tackle boxes generally indicated at 10. Thus the bag comprises two bag portions 11 and 12 each of which has an outer side 13, an inner side 14, two ends 15 and 16 and a bottom 17. The portions are formed from fabric which is relatively soft and collapsible. However the portions are arranged so that the length of the portions between the ends 15 and 16 is equal to the length of the tackle boxes so that the tackle boxes act to stiffen the structure. Thus in the example shown there are six tackle boxes two of which have a length equal to the length of the bag portions so that they lie against the inner wall of the portions with the ends of the tackle boxes engaging the ends of the bag portion. Two other tackle boxes are of shorter length so that they extend across only half of the length of the bag portion so the two end to end match the lengths of the single tackle boxes and the length of the bag portion. The height of the tackle boxes is arranged to be equal to the height of the bag portions so that the tackle boxes extend from the bottom 17 to an open mouth defined by the rectangular opening at the top of the sides and ends of the bag portion. The outer sides 13 have a pocket 18 stitched onto the outer side extending from the bottom 17 up to the top edge 19 of the pocket which is spaced downwardly from the top of the bag portion. The pockets 18 on the outer surface of each bag portion thus provide an additional opening for receiving materials associated with fishing. One of the pockets includes a zipper extending along the length of the pocket and the other is divided into three separate compartments as indicated at 21 so as to contain various elements.

[0028] The top of each of the bag portions is covered by a flap member 22. The flap member is attached at one end as best shown in FIG. 2 so that it connects to the end 16 of the bag portion. The flap member has patches of hook/loop fastener material 23 at the end and similar patches 24 at the sides for cooperation with patches 23A and 24A on the bag portion allowing the flap to be closed over the top of the rectangular open mouth of the bag portion and engaged into place along the sides of the bag portion and at the opposite end of the bag portion to keep the bag portion closed when access is not required. The flap thus when opened exposes the whole of the open top allowing the rectangular tackle boxes to be readily removed by pulling vertically.

[0029] Each of the portions has a handle at its upper end stitched to the inner wall 14. The handle forms a loop with the ends of the loops simply attached at the inner wall. One of the handle loops 25 includes a flap 25A allowing it to be wrapped around the other of the loops so as to join the loops for common transportation.

[0030] Each of the inner walls of the bag portion has around its full periphery a zipper 27. The zipper thus includes a coupling 28 on one side which allows a slider 29 on the other side to engage onto the coupling and thus the slider can be pulled around the full periphery of the zipper around the outside edge of the inner portions so as to connect the inner portions immediately adjacent to one another with little or no space between them when connected by the zipper. Thus when connected by the zipper, the handles are brought together allowing the flap 25A to be engaged thus integrating the two bag portions into a single bag structure.

[0031] A flap member 30 is provided which extends between the two bag portions and can be draped over a chair or other support generally indicated at 31 placing each bag portion on the respective side of the chair. The connecting member is formed of a fabric shaped to form a generally rectangular panel 32 which extends to four corners 33 at each of which is provided a strap 34. Thus the panel is stitched so that it forms into the corners with the strap stitched onto the corner and extending outwardly from the corner diagonally. Thus the four straps are positioned diagonally with two on each side of the chair or support 31 and spaced along the side edge 31A of the support. Each of the straps has a clip 35 at its end which cooperates with a D-shaped loop or ring 36 provided on the bag portion.

[0032] Thus in the use position shown in FIG. 2, the connecting portion is draped over the chair with the bag portions provided on each side and suspended downwardly from the side. The flap 22 can be opened exposing the tackle boxes allowing the use the user to readily reach the materials on each side of the chair properly suspended by the connecting member 30. The straps 34 can be arranged so that they can be adjusted in length so as to properly locate the clip 35 at the required location so that it suspends slightly downwardly from the edge 31A. Each D-ring 36 is attached by a strap connection 37 to the bag portion so that the bag portion hangs at an angle in which it is held upright. Thus as best shown in FIG. 3, the strap connection 37 is inclined to the vertical so that it holds the D-ring at an angle upwardly toward the edge 31A. This positioning of the strap connection on the ends 15 and 16 and the inclination of the strap connection tends to support the bag portions vertical with little or no tendency for the bottom to tilt inwardly under the chair which would interfere with the ability of the user to readily remove the tackle boxes. With the straps connected on the outside, it is necessary to remove the clips from the D-rings before the bag portions are zippered together allowing the connecting portion to be removed and tucked for storage between the bag portions.

[0033] While one embodiment of the present invention has been described in the foregoing, it is to be understood that other embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention. The invention is to be considered limited solely by the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A bag comprising: a first bag portion having a bottom, an inner side, an outer side and two ends connected together to form a hollow container with an open top; a second bag portion having a bottom, an inner side, an outer side and two ends connected together to form a hollow container with an open top; a connecting member connected to each of the first and second bag portions at the inner side thereof and extending therebetween to form a bridging portion dimensioned to rest upon a seat of a chair with each of the bag portions located on a respective side of the chair and depending downwardly from the seat; the connecting member being flexible such that it can be folded between the two bag portions; the two bag portions having at the inner side of each portion cooperating connecting elements which engage one another to hold the inner sides of the two portions together side by side to form the bag into a common structure for common transportation; and a handle assembly for supporting the bag in the common structure.
 2. The bag according to claim 1 wherein the sides and ends are generally parallel so as to form each portion into a substantially rectangular construction with a rectangular open top.
 3. The bag according to claim 1 wherein each portion contains at least one generally rectangular rigid tackle box which is a loose fit within the portion allowing it to be removed.
 4. The bag according to claim 1 wherein each portion includes a cover for the open top which can be opened to allow access.
 5. The bag according to claim 4 wherein the cover comprises a flap of fabric connected at one end and which can be opened toward the one end.
 6. The bag according to claim 1 wherein the handle comprises a pair of handle loops each attached on a respective portion.
 7. The bag according to claim 1 wherein the handle loops are each attached to the respective portion at the inner side such that the handle loops are immediately adjacent in the connected position.
 8. The bag according to claim 1 wherein the connecting elements comprise cooperating parts of a zipper at least partly surrounding the inner sides.
 9. The bag according to claim 1 wherein the zipper fully surrounds an outer edge of the inner sides so as to contain the connecting member therein.
 10. The bag according to claim 1 wherein the connecting portion is a fabric sheet.
 11. The bag according to claim 1 wherein the connecting portion is shaped to form four straps one at each corner with two of the straps being connected to one portion and two of the straps to the other portion.
 12. The bag according to claim 11 wherein each of the straps is connected to the respective portion by a clip and ring fastener so that it can be disconnected.
 13. The bag according to claim 11 wherein each of the straps is connected to the respective bag portion on a respective end of the bag portion.
 14. The bag according to claim 11 wherein each of the straps is connected to the respective end of the bag portion at a direction inclined to the vertical. 